1. Public Opinion, Propaganda & Interest Groups

2. Public Opinion – How formed?
Personal back ground: how you grew up Mass Media: communication methods

3. Public Opinion – How formed?
Public Officials – people you trust & vote for
Interest Groups – group you join because you share those interests

4. Interest Groups
Economic Interest Groups: An organization that supports economic interests.
Examples: AFL-CIO [labor unions], AMA [for doctors]

5. Interest Groups
Public Interest Groups: organizations that support causes that affect the lives of Americans in general.
Examples: Common Cause, League of Women Voters

6. Interest Groups
Ideological Groups – to promote certain ideas or types of people
Examples: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP], National Organization for Women [NOW], National Rifle Association [NRA], Sierra Club

7. Interest Groups Influence Government
Support candidates favorable to their issue
Bring cases to court to right a wrong
Try to persuade lawmakers to create laws that support their issues

8. Mass Media
The mass media include both print and electronic modes of communication. Types of these include: newspapers, magazines, books, news letters, radio, TV, movies, and the internet.

9. Media’s Impact? Set public agenda – help show ‘important’ issues
Watchdog role – keep government from doing wrong
Candidates – seen as celebrities

10. What is Propaganda?
A method used to persuade you to do something.

11. Name Calling & Card Stacking
Name calling is giving an opponent a bad name
Stacked Cards: presenting only one side of an argument and telling all that is good or bad about something/someone

12. Bandwagon & Glittering Generality
Bandwagon: persuading people to do something by letting them know others are doing it.
Glittering Generality: a statement that sounds good but is meaningless

13. Testimonials & Endorsements
using the words or a picture of a famous person to persuade you.

14. Symbols & Just Plain Folks
Symbols: using symbols in commercials for appearances sake.
Just Plain Folks: showing that a candidate is simply a ‘normal person’ like everyone else